Calibrachoa plant named &#39;Suncal 1871&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘Suncal 1871’, characterized by its compact and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; long flowering period; white-colored flowers with bright yellow-colored throats; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SUNCAL 1871’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Suncal 1871’.

The new Calibrachoa plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new compact, mounding and freely branching Calibrachoa plants with numerous large and attractive flowers with unique coloration.

The new Calibrachoa plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in September, 2012 of a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number C24F1-81-1, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number C24-162-1, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in October, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by terminal vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan since November, 2013 has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Suncal 1871’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Suncal 1871’ as a new and distinct Calibrachoa plant:

-   -   1. Compact and mounding plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   5. Long flowering period.     -   6. White-colored flowers with bright yellow-colored throats and         venation.     -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have red and yellow-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have pink and yellow-colored flowers. In addition, flowers of plants of the new Calibrachoa are smaller than flowers of plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can also be compared to plants of Calibrachoa sp. ‘Sunbel 789’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,444. In side-by-side comparison, plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘Sunbel 789’ differ primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are larger than plants of         ‘Sunbel 789’.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have thicker lateral branches         than plants of ‘Sunbel 789’.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘Sunbel 789’ differ in leaf         shape as plants of ‘Sunbel 789’ have spatulate-shaped leaves.     -   4. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have smaller flowers than         plants of ‘Sunbel 789’.     -   5. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘Sunbel 789’ differ         slightly in flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Calibrachoa plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Calibrachoa plant.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Suncal 1871’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Suncal 1871’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer in 15-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and under cultural practices typical of commercial Calibrachoa production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 23° C. and night temperatures averaged 13° C. Plants were three months old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. ‘Suncal 1871’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number C24F1-81-1, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number C24-162-1, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About one week at             temperatures about 15° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and             winter.—About three weeks at temperatures about 15° C. to             20° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact and mounding plant habit;             freely branching habit with numerous lateral branches             developing per plant; pinching enhances lateral branch             development; vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 25 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 57 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 24 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 3.6 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 2.5 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Upright to outwardly.         -   Texture.—Densely pubescent; rough.         -   Color.—Close to 144B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.         -   Length.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.65 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent; rough.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; reticulate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138A. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137B; venation,             close to 144B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 147B; venation, close to 144C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 4.4 mm. Diameter: About 2.1 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent; rough. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers             arising from upper leaf axils; freely flowering habit with             usually about 140 flowers developing per plant; flowers face             upright or upright to outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants of             the new Calibrachoa initiate and develop flowers about three             to four weeks after planting; long flowering period,             flowering naturally commences during the spring and plants             flower continuously throughout the summer until late autumn             in Japan.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about seven to ten             days on the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 3.3 cm.         -   Flower length (depth).—About 8.8 mm.         -   Throat diameter.—About 6.5 mm.         -   Tube length.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Tube diameter, base.—About 1.4 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.9 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm.             Shape: Cylindrical. Color: Close to 5D and 2C; proximally,             close to 150C.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and             opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:             About 9.7 mm. Petal width: About 1.2 cm. Petal shape:             Roughly spatulate. Petal apex: Rounded. Petal margin:             Entire; undulate. Petal texture, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous; satiny. Petal texture, lower surface: Smooth,             glabrous. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture:             Pubescent. Color: Petal, when opening, upper surface: Close             to 4D; towards the throat, close to 7A. Petal, when opening,             lower surface: Close to 155B. Petal, when opening, upper             surface: Close to 155B; towards the throat, close to 7B;             venation, close to 3B. Petal, when opening, lower surface:             Close to NN155A. Throat: Close to 13A; proximally, close to             2C; venation, close to N144A. Tube: Close to 13C;             proximally, close to 1C.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: Star-shaped tubular calyx tube with five             sepals in a single whorl and fused at the base. Sepal             length: About 8.1 mm. Sepal width: About 2.8 mm. Sepal             shape: Lanceolate. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire.             Sepal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent; rough.             Sepal color: Immature and mature, upper surface: Close to             N137D. Immature and mature, lower surface: Close to 137B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About 0.5 mm.             Angle: Upright to outwardly. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Pubescent; rough. Color: Close to 144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five per flower.             Filament length: About 8.7 mm. Filament color: Close to             145C. Anther shape: Ellipsoidal. Anther size: About 1.5 mm             by 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 4C. Pollen amount: Scarce.             Pollen color: Close to 4D. Pistils: Quantity: One per             flower. Pistil length: About 9.8 mm. Style color: Close to             145D. Stigma shape: Transversely ellipsoidal. Stigma color:             Close to 145B. Ovary color: Close to 144A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Calibrachoa. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed     to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 35° C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not     been observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to     Calibrachoa plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘Suncal 1871’ as illustrated and described. 